Method and apparatus for distributing insect repellant

ABSTRACT

An insect repellant method and apparatus that can protect a defined area from insects for a determinable time period. The invention may be practiced in conjunction with or independent of normal building systems. The invention creates an invisible veil of protection against insects.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The field of invention is methods and apparatus for dispersing insectrepellant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE BACKGROUND ART

Repellants are chemical substances, natural and synthesized, having achemical effect on insects. Their use in human and veterinary hygiene isof great practical importance, where they protect man and beast againstblood sucking, biting or otherwise annoying insects. Numerous methodsand apparatuses for repelling bugs away from areas occupied by humansand animals are known and marketed throughout the United States and theworld.

Known apparatuses and methods employ various means to disperse insectrepellant to discourage insects from occupying certain space. One suchprevious device uses a heat source as described in U.S. Pat. No.5,095,647 to disperse repellent through evaporation. Another devicedescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,589,181 incorporates direct application ofrepellent on the subject desiring relief from bothersome insects. Analternative technique, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,823,505, involvesfogging an area with repellant to evict insects from their currentlocation.

A drawback with the previous approaches is the indiscriminate coveragearea protected by evaporation and fogging. Another disadvantage is arequirement to periodically reapply repellant to provide continuousprotection.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatusthat creates a veil of protection against insects.

It is also an object of this invention to provide protection frominsects for a sustainable and definite time period without periodicreapplication of the repellant.

A further object of this invention is to avoid purposeful directapplication of the insect repellant to the subject's skin or clothing.

According to one embodiment, insect repellent is drawn out of a vesselthrough a fitting and dispersed along a predefined boundary by a nozzleassembly comprising a distribution header and misting nozzles. In aversion of this embodiment, the fitting is a venturi-like device.Pressurized fluid flows through the venturi-like device intermixing withthe insect repellant prior to dispersement into the air. In one versionof this embodiment, the fluid is pressurized water from a municipalsource or private well.

In another embodiment, insect repellant is premixed with a dispersingagent such as water in a vessel. The vessel is then pressurized or thefluid is pumped out of the vessel to force the fluid through a nozzleassembly.

This invention is particularly suitable for an outdoor covered area, forexample, a covered porch or tent, in which it is necessary to adoptadequate protection against insects for extended periods of time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the present insect repellant distribution system installedon an open porch with an overhead covering.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of an embodiment connected to anoutside water source.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of an embodiment using a vesselcontaining insect repellant premixed with a dispersing fluid. Themixture is pumped out of the vessel through the nozzle assembly.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of an embodiment using a vesselcontaining insect repellant premixed with a dispersing fluid. Themixture is forced out of the vessel and through the nozzle assembly bycompressed air introduced to the vessel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In a first embodiment, shown in FIG. 1, an insect repellent, that isnontoxic to humans, for example citronella, is placed in a vessel 1. Apressurized fluid source 9, for example a water faucet connected to awell, storage tank, or municipal water supply at standard domestic waterpressure (20-100 psi), is connected to a fitting 11 which is attached tothe vessel 1. Larger systems may employ a pressure pump from 100-1000psi to increase the dispersement of insect repellent.

The fitting 11 can be a venturi-like mixing device that passes thepressurized fluid through the fitting 11 from a first inlet 10 to anoutlet 12, drawing the insect repellent 8 out of the vessel 1 throughinlet 14. The insect repellent mixes with the pressurized fluid as it isdrawn out of the vessel 1. Fittings using a venturi for mixing andproportioning two fluids are commercially available and well known inthe art, two such devices are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,887,640 and5,443,094. The fitting 11 mixes the pressurized fluid with the insectrepellent and forces the insect repellent into the distribution header3.

The distribution header 3 can be fabricated from plastic tubing, metalpiping, or the like. The distribution header 3 distributes the insectrepellant to a plurality of misting nozzles 5. The misting nozzles 5disperse the insect repellant into the atmosphere along a predeterminedboundary such as defined by the edge of a porch roof 7.

This embodiment and others described herein would also work withmultiple distribution headers that branch off of a primary distributionheader 3 or originate from multiple outlets of the fitting 11. Inaddition, this embodiment and others described herein would work wellwith any overhead covering, such as a tent or canvass awning.

The embodiments described herein are especially useful for providingextended protection against insects. For example, fitting 11 mixes theinsect repellant at a ratio of 50 parts by volume of pressurized fluidto 1 part by volume of insect repellant. At a flow rate of 1/2 gallon ofpressurized fluid per minute, one gallon of insect repellant willprovide continuous protection against insects for an hour and 42 minutesbefore replenishment of insect repellant is required. By changing flowrates, vessel capacities, or mixing proportions and insect repellantconcentrations, the time period for protection from insects can bylengthened or shortened.

In another embodiment, shown in FIG. 2, vessel 13 is a collapsiblebladder contained within a second vessel 15 which is detachable fromfitting 17. A pressurized fluid source 19 is connected to a fitting 17which is attached to vessel 13 and vessel 15 such that, as thepressurized fluid passes through fitting 17 from a first inlet 18 to afirst outlet 20, insect repellant is drawn out of vessel 13 through asecond inlet 26. Vessel 13 collapses as insect repellant is drawn out.As vessel 13 collapses, fitting 17 allows an amount of pressurized fluidfrom first inlet 18 through a second outlet 28 into vessel 15. Theamount of diverted pressurized fluid is equal to the amount of insectrepellant exiting vessel 13, thereby maintaining a constant pressure invessels 13 and 15. This embodiment provides consistent proportioning andmixing of the two fluids. Fitting 17 as described herein and variationsthereof are commercially available and well known in the art.

The insect repellant mixture exits the fitting 17 through outlet 20 intothe distribution headers 21 and 22. The mixture travels through thedistribution headers 21 and 22 and is expelled out of the mistingnozzles 23 and 24. The expulsion of insect repellant through the mistingnozzles 23 and 24 disperses the repellent along a boundary defined bythe location of the misting nozzles 23 and 24 creating an invisible veilof protection against insects.

In another embodiment, shown in FIG. 3, insect repellant is premixedwith a dispersing fluid, such as water, and placed in a vessel 25. Apump 27 pumps the premixed solution out of the vessel 25 and into thedistribution header 29 and out of the misting nozzles 31. This allowsreplenishment of the vessel 25 without shutting the system down to addmore repellant and dispersing fluid. This embodiment is also useful whenan independent source of pressurized fluid is not readily available.

In another embodiment, shown in FIG. 4, a source of compressed air 33,such as a compressor or pressurized air tank, forces air into the vessel35 thereby forcing the premixed solution into a distribution header 37and out of the misting nozzles 39. Another version of this embodiment isto pressurize vessel 35 and then disconnect the source of compressed air33 for transportation of the pressurized vessel 35 to a remote nozzleassembly.

An aromatic compound pleasing to the sensory faculties of the subjectsdesiring protection from insects, may be added to the fluid insectrepellant in and of the preceding embodiments. The aromatic compound canmask unpleasant odors caused by the insect repellant or other sources.

While there has been shown and described what are at present consideredthe preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious to thoseskilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be madetherein without departing from the scope of the invention defined by theappended claims. For example, the misting nozzles could be holes in thedistribution header and the pressurized fluid could be compressed air ora volatile liquid.

I claim:
 1. An insect repellant distribution system comprising:a nozzleassembly for emitting a fluid veil into air along a boundary fordiscouraging insects from crossing said boundary, said nozzle assemblybeing spaced to define said boundary for enclosing a covered area; avessel connected to said nozzle assembly containing a fluid insectrepellant; and a mechanism coupled to said vessel to force the fluidinsect repellant from said vessel through said nozzle assembly forproducing said veil in the air along said boundary.
 2. An insectrepellant distribution system of claim 1, wherein said nozzle assemblycomprises:a distribution header coupled to said vessel to receive thefluid insect repellant; and a plurality of misting nozzles connected tosaid distribution header for dispersing the fluid insect repellent fromsaid distribution header.
 3. An insect repellant distribution system ofclaim 2 further comprising a plurality of distribution headers, each ofsaid distribution headers having a plurality of nozzles.
 4. An insectrepellant distribution system of claim 1 wherein said mechanismcomprises a pump.
 5. An insect repellant distribution system of claim 1wherein said mechanism for forcing said fluid insect repellantcomprises:a coupling for attachment to a source of pressurized fluid; afitting having a first inlet connected to said coupling, a second inletconnected to said vessel, and an outlet connected to said nozzleassembly, wherein a flow of said pressurized fluid from said first inletto said outlet draws the fluid insect repellant from said vessel.
 6. Aninsect repellant distribution system of claim 5 comprising a vesselhaving a flexible bladder connected to said nozzle assembly.
 7. Aninsect repellant distribution system of claim 5 wherein said pressurizedfluid is water.
 8. An insect repellant distribution system of claim 1wherein said insect repellant is citronella.
 9. An insect repellantdistribution system of claim 1 wherein said vessel further contains anaromatic compound.
 10. An insect repellant distribution system of claim5 further comprising:an internal flexible bladder inside of said vesselconnected to said second inlet of said fitting, said flexible bladderfor containing the fluid insect repellant; and a second outlet of saidfitting, wherein a flow of said pressurized fluid from said first inletto said second outlet surrounds said flexible bladder in said vessel.11. An insect repellant distribution system as in claim 1, wherein saidnozzle assembly defines a boundary about a perimeter of said coveredarea.
 12. A method for distributing insect repellant comprising thesteps:defining a boundary for enclosing a covered area in which insectsare not desired; placing a nozzle assembly along said boundary foremitting a mist into the air; placing an insect repellant fluid into avessel; and forcing said insect repellant from said vessel through saidnozzle assembly for producing a fluid veil in the air along saidboundary for discouraging insects from crossing said boundary.
 13. Amethod as in claim 12, wherein said forcing said insect repellant fromsaid vessel through said nozzle assembly comprises pumping said insectrepellant from said vessel into said nozzle assembly.
 14. A method as inclaim 12, wherein said forcing said insect repellant from said vesselthrough said nozzle assembly comprises pressurizing said vessel.
 15. Amethod as in claim 12, whereas said insect repellant is citronella. 16.A method as in claim 12, further comprising placing an aromatic compoundin said vessel.
 17. A method as in claim 12, wherein said forcing saidinsect repellant from said vessel through said nozzle assemblycomprises:connecting a first inlet of a fitting to a source ofpressurized fluid; connecting a second inlet of said fitting to saidvessel; and attaching an outlet of said fitting to said nozzle assembly,so that a flow of said pressurized fluid from said first inlet to saidoutlet draws said fluid insect repellant from said vessel through saidsecond inlet.
 18. A method as in claim 17, wherein said fitting has aventuri.
 19. A method as in claim 12, wherein said forcing said insectrepellant from said vessel through said nozzle assembly furthercomprises introducing pressurized water into said first inlet.
 20. Amethod for distributing insect repellant underneath a structure having acovered area comprising the steps:placing a nozzle assembly along aboundary defining an area no greater than a perimeter of said coveredarea; and forcing a fluid insect repellant solution from a vesselthrough said nozzle assembly for producing a fluid veil in the air alongsaid boundary for discouraging insects from crossing said boundary.